OCR Text |
Show MM f i t-- ' i ' .. .7 Vou 'v A SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, AUGUST 2, No. 47. Irv the Political Arerva ; ' i. ; J . 4 V ' If .' ;. . ' . After remaining silent under the adverse comment of political opponents, who have charged him with many political high crimes and misdemeanors, William J. Bryan defends himself, and in the last issue of the Commoner replies to the many strictures that have been laid upon him. Three points have been alleged against Bryan. First, he has been quoted as saying at some indefinite date he was not a Democrat, but a bimetalist; second, that he voted for Weaver in 1892, and third, that he has advocated principles which are not Democratic. Bryan denies the first charge emphatically, declaring that he has always been a consistent Democrat; that his parents were Democrats; that he began making speeches for the party before he was old enough to vote and has labored for its interests ever since. He maintains very stoutly that he has favored fusion in his own state (Nebraska) because the Populists and Democrats were so close together on' their ideas of government that there He was no use of division existing. directs attention to the fact that in 1890, when he ran for congress and was elected that he defeated the Populist and Republican candidates. That history repeated itself in 1892. That in 1894, when he was the candidate for the United States senate he did not receive the votes of the Populist party, because they had a candidate of their own, and that he was the Democratic candidate. After summing up his labors in behalf of the Democratic party at some length, he comes to the charge that he supported Weaver and here, perhaps, it is better to use his own language: As the election of 1892 approached evident that it was impossibecame it Democrats to carry several the ble for western states, but that it was of the possible for the Democrats to assist the Populists in carrying them. This situation having been fully discussed, the Democratic national committee, of which Mr. Harrity was chairman ana Mr. Whitney the controlling spirit,- (if the word spirit can properly be used as the Whitney type), instructed to urge the Democrats of Kansas, Colorado and a number of other western states, to support the Weaver electors for the purpose of taking those states out of the Republican column and house throwing the election into the Demothe where of representatives crats had a majority. The evidence of this is conclusive, and has been published time and again. The following letter from James B. Boyd, then the governor of Nebraska and the Nebraska member of the national committee, ought to set this fact at rest: just returned from the east where I was honored by a consultation with the national committee and leading men of our party, with regard to the best policy to be pursued in Nebraska this fall in dealing with the electoral ticket; and they agreed with me that the wisest course would be for Democrats to support the Weaver electors; the object being to take Nebraska out of her accustomed place in the. Republican column. Information has reached me that a number of independents who were formerly Republicans contemplate voting for the Harrison electors. With the Republican strength thus augmented it would be impossible for the Democrats to carry their own electors ticket to victory. It is therefore the part of good judgment and wise action for Democrats to support the Weaver electors in as large numbers as possible. For Democrats to do this is no abandonment of principle; on the contrary, it is a definite step toward victory, and the ultimate triumph of Cleveland and Stevenson, and the principles they represent. JAMES E. BOYD. & & Mr. Bryan was then a member of congress as well as a candidate for and announced that if the election was thrown into the house he would vote for Mr. Cleveland, the Democratic nominee, as against Mr. Harrison , the Republican nominee. Mr. Bryan may be justly criticised for having known so little of Mr. Cleveland as to prefer him to Mr. Harrison, but from the standpoint of Democratic regularity he cannot be criticised for obeying the Democratic national committee, and voting for General Weaver in order to help elect Mr. Cleveland. In the elction of 189G Mr. Weaver was one of the most active supporters of Mr. Bryan, while Mr. Cleveland turned to Republican advantage the influence which the Democratic party had given him. When Air. Bryan became personally acquainted with the two men, he found that General Weaver was infinitely more Democratic than Mr. Cleveland in environment, principles, purpose and method. 4 & The publication of this letter from Governor Boyd throws some light on a subject which has been hitherto clouded with no small degree of mystery. It would seem that in voting for Weaver, Bryan and his followers were but playing party politics and acting on the grounds of expediJH J ency. This statement of Bryans exLincoln, Neb., Oct 17. (Personal plains something which all of us have about to date, and the And confidential.) Dear Sir: I have known nothing re-electi- 1. 1903. publication of Governor Boyds letter is a matter of news which Truth is glad to disseminate to its Utah readers for the first time. It is doubtful if there are a dozen people in this state who ever heard of it before. It would seem from its reading that Democrats have no reason to reproach him for his action in this case, for if they do they impeach the political integrity of Harrity, whose Democracy is inborn and is accentuated by the nature of his ancestry. Boyd, too, was a Democrat of Democrats and no one can accuse him of ever neglecting an opportunity of enhancing his partys success. The balance of Mr. Bryans defense is devoted to a resume of his actions. He directs attention to the fact that he helped prepare the Wilson tariff bill, which when introduced met with Clevelands views, but which he repudiated after Hill and Gorman had torn it to bits. He declares that he has been, and still is, in harmony with the masses of the Democratic party on the vital questions which affect it, and that he is as good a Democrat as any of them. Closing he' says : Space has been given ,to the above not because Mr. Bryans conduct ' or views ought to influence others, but because the reorganizers are seeking to make the fight a personal one against Air. Bryan, whereas it is and ought to be made upon principles. A principle is neither good nor bad because it is advocated by any man; it is good or bad in itself, and this discussion of Mr. Bryans personal connection with these questions would not appear here but for the fact that the friends of the Kansas City platform are continually annoyed by the misrepresentations that are made by the gold Democrats and by the Republican papers which take great delight in assisting' the gold Democrats. o LOCAL POLITICS. The declarations of the Democrats that they will either not put a ticket in the field for the coming municipal election or simply nominate a ticket and let it go at that without making any effort to elect it has given an impetus to the proposition to run an independent ticket in opposition to the Sevregular Republican nominees. eral informal caucuses have been held, attended chiefly by Democrats and a few dissatisfied Republicans. ticket The plan to run a in lieu of a straight Democratic ticket met with favor and it is understood that another meeting of those who fan in with the idea will be held this The evening to mature' the plans. Price 5 Cents tions or religious beliefs and to use all legitimate means for its election. The Kearns faction is preparing to use its former tactics in both the conventions, that is an endeavor will be made to bring about the nomination of persons friendly to Kearns on each ticket. There is a genus in Salt Lake known as Kearns Democrats and Kearns Independents and a strong effort will be made for the nomination of as many of them as possible on whatever kind of a ticket may be put up against the straight The Kearns people Republicans. dont expect to control the Republican convention to any great extent, but wbat they lack in the Republican convention they hope to make up from the opposition. Senator Kearns has struck a new scheme. Instead of endeavoring to impress people with his importance; instead of attempting to overawe and bulldoze, he has concluded to be a good fellow. A part of this programme consists in the erection of an imaginary pie counter, loaded down with good things to be handed out. Tom is causing it to go forth that when he returns to Washington he is going to distribute favors in Utah until he cannot rest. That he has places enough, were they good intentions, to pave hades seventeen blocks. He has several little lists made to order which he carries around with him and when he can lure one of his opponents whose name appears on either or any, into 'his office or up to the castle he does so. Once within the four walls, where the chap has no witnesses, Tom informs him that he has had his eye on him for a long time. That he. appreciates ability when he sees it. That he is going to get his visitor a good position in government employ. That he would have taken care of him before, only he has been so busy. That just as soon as he gets back to ' the capital he will see the President about it. That the very first opening shall be captured for the Utah man. This done he leads up to his own candidacy and demonstrates in his own peculiar fashion how much better it' will be for the prospective office hold--e- r to have him there than Sutherland, or any other man. Having conned the fellow to his hearts content, the senator turns him loose and looks for the next one. It is said this plan is working so successfully that argument 13 that the present adminis- even our friend James Devine is tration has shown so much incompe- looking for a in tency in dealing with the water and Japan and that several others are other problems, that a radical change casting sheeps eyes in various direcis imperative. It is proposed to nomi- tions at sundry jobs and spend a great nate a ticket of substantial business deal of their spare time in figuring men irrespective of political affilia how much they can save in six yean non-partisa- n consul-generalshi- p ( |